Well, I was officially 18 weeks as of Friday, April 26th. :) Over the weekend (April 20 & 21), while I was at work, I'm pretty sure I felt baby moving for the first time. It just feels like an occasional small muscle spasm. I was super excited! I was off Monday - Wednesday and didn't really feel anything.. so I was a bit disappointed. I'm wondering if baby moves more when I'm more active. Since I hit the 18 week mark, I've been feeling it more often (at work & at home) so that's exciting. :)
Only 3 more days till we find out the sex. I'm both anxious and excited! I can't wait to find out! I'm really getting girl vibes, though.
According to babycenter.com:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper)
and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs —
movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead.
His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are
now in their final position, although they're still standing out from
his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form
around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's
born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed
and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now,
but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it
count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of
empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger,
more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline
grow.
Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes,
and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower
than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or
you might feel a little dizzy.
From
now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at
least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your
uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to
your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper
leg for comfort.
If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound,
you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your
practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth
defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the
due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're
carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or
sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a
printout for your baby's first photo album!
Baby is the size of a sweet potato (or bell pepper):
How far along? 18 weeks 2 days
Total
weight gain: around 8 lbs
Maternity
clothes? yes, I can't comfortably wear my regular jeans anymore
Sleep: still waking up at least once per night.
Miss
Anything? sleep!
Movement: I'm pretty sure it's baby that I'm feeling, not gas. Woohoo!
Food
cravings: just the usual junk food
Anything
making you queasy or sick: no
Gender
prediction: not sure, but I'm still leaning towards girl
Labor
Signs: no
Symptoms: round ligament pain (OW!), increased hunger, sleepy, headaches
Belly
Button in or out? in
Wedding
rings on or off? on
Happy
or Moody most of the time: happy
Looking
forward to: finding out the gender in THREE DAYS!! Feeling baby move more, starting on the nursery, and looking more like I'm pregnant.
No comments:
Post a Comment